The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf team consists of five Americans and four Europeans. With ESPN's coverage of the Ryder Cup set to begin around 2 a.m. EDT on Friday morning, it doesn't take a sports psychologist or U.N. peace keeping force to know those nine may need a manners mulligan or three to get through the weekend.
Or will they?
"I think most people would tell you that we're not the most aggressive group of people," said German-born Stephan Jaeger with a wry smile. "I don't think anybody's going to get mad and start hitting each other. But if Europe wins, we're definitely going to say we're the best."
And should the United States do the unexpected and stun the Euros on the Celtic Manor layout in Newport, Wales?
"There will be a lot of smack talk," said Steven Fox of Hendersonville, Tenn. "On paper we're already beat. But if we pull it off, the trash talk will be nonstop."
Given that one-third of the U.S. team answers to Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Rickie Fowler, a lot of fans of the Stars and Stripes will be studying nonstop to learn whom they're cheering for.
Then again, to go back to the U.S. win at Valhalla two years ago, who would have believed that a team featuring Anthony Kim, Boo Weekley, Chad Campbell and J.B. Holmes would halt Europe's winning streak at three?
"Ill never forget Boo Weekley doing a (fictional golfer) Happy Gilmore impersonation after that one," said Mocs freshman Davis Bunn, who hails from Knoxville but rolls with Alabama's Crimson Tide most autumn Saturdays.
"If we win, (the trash talk) is not going to end. Fox and I will be relentless."
To some extent, the Americans' preparation has already begun, according to Bunn.
"We have an (American) flag in our room," he said, "and we're planning on taking it to practice every day this week."
Fellow freshman Chris Robb of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, hasn't waved any flags around, but he has watched a few replays of Europe's victory at the K-Club in Ireland four years ago.
"I remember Paul McGinley holing out a putt," said Robb. "I've got the DVD of that one and I watch that quite a lot."
Unlike most of his teammates, who have never witnessed a Ryder Cup match in person, Robb actually "had tickets for this one, but I'm not in the country."
None of them expects to be watching when coverage begins Friday morning. After all, there are classes to attend, practice to get in and, well, they're college kids.
"I might set my alarm clock to get up early," said Fox. "But probably not. We'll all watch it on the weekend, though."
Not that Robb apparently needs to watch to learn the outcome.
"Everybody knows Europe is going to win," he said. "America always looks better on paper, but the Euopeans always tough it out."
A case in point: At the NCAA regional a couple of years ago at Oklahoma State, Jaeger and UTC assistant Ben Rickett (a native of England) actually led the United States' Fowler by several strokes after two rounds, though Fowler did come back to edge them the final day.
"Now he's making millions," said Jaeger, "and we're still in Chattanooga."
There is talk of Yanks and Euros actually staging their own mini Ryder Cup here in the Scenic City over the weekend. One suspects that should such an event happen, the players' Facebook sites will give the results, depending on which side wins.
But just in case you've already given up on the Red, White and Blue, Fox - the Moc not the network - has a news flash.
"It looks like Phil (Mickelson) and Tiger (Woods) are getting along," he said with a somewhat straight face.
Then again, as Tiger has unwittingly reminded us all year, looks can be deceiving. Especially when assessing the Ryder Cup.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6273.